Congratulations to marc3lo19 for being selected for our April Reef Profile! His 15 gallon nano reef is wildly diverse and beautifully cultivated. Below is the profile he's written for us sharing his experience in the hobby and his aquarium's progress over the past year. Check it out and share your comments and questions in marc3lo19's featured reef profile thread.
It's really an honor to be featured on Nano-Reef.com among the other featured reefs! Nothing makes me happier than to share the tank with friends, family, and especially you all. I've been on N-R for 6 years now after stumbling across the site. I owe it all to member 'acoustic', after seeing his tank online I became obsessed with saltwater aquariums, and this is now my 5th nano reef. I have always kept nanos because I love the challenge. Like many others, I've had my ups and downs, but being a Pisces, something always drew me back. I have one motto when it comes to reef keeping. Keep it simple. Less really is more in the nano world. I've really enjoyed sharing my tank experiences with everyone here.
Tank Specs
Dimensions: 32" x 10" x 12 3/8"
Lighting: 3x par 38 LED Bulb (Rapid Led + BoostLed)
Filtration: Fluval G3 Canister (Filter floss + Chemi pure elite)
Biological Filtration: Live rock
Water Motion: Vortech MP10
Skimmer: None
Salt: Reef Crystals
Established June 2011
Maintenance Routine
I try to keep things as simple as possible. My maintenance includes a water change every Sunday of 20% with RO water. I clean out the canister filter at the same time and change the filter floss and Chemi Pure Elite every 3-4 weeks. I clean the glass and bottom usually every other day. I feed every day whenever I walk by the tank; I drop in a couple pellets and a little bit of brine or mysis once a week as a treat. I don't dose anything but rather rely on my consistent water changes to replenish nutrients.
Corals
I have a mixture of many different kinds of SPS, LPS, and Softies. I know it's possible to keep different corals together, don't let anyone tell you "you can't keep SPS with LPS," because it's just not true.
Fish & Invertebrates
• 2 Ocellaris Clownfish (Chili & Bubbles)
• Purple Dottyback (Purpelina)
• Red Hermit Crabs
• Emerald Crab
• Porcelain Crab
History
The livestock and live rock came out of a 6 gallon tall tank I started a year and a half ago. I only have 2 pieces of LR in the whole tank. It makes things simple because I can move and adjust everything very easily. I also designed it this way so that in the case that I have to move the tank, I can just put both rocks in a large bucket, drain the water and go. The tank was originally in my bedroom, but I moved it down into the basement where everyone hangs out so we could all enjoy it. The tank is a work in progress. I've tried to keep an open aquascape and was trying to design the entire tank around the idea of 'negative space'. It's a trend I have begun to see a lot more here on N-R as people continue to move away from the typical 'rock wall'.
Inspirations & Goals
I have to say Marcelo's 5 gallon long was my initial inspiration for this tank. I draw most of my inspiration from here on N-R. I have to acknowledge Aj_Tsin, Rehype & Sushi because I followed in their footsteps with the negative space concept. My main goal is simplicity, I really like to keep things uncomplicated and hide clutter and equipment.
Mistakes
Naturally, like all reefers, I have made my mistakes over the years. With my first tank I didn't know what the word 'acclimate' meant and I used to just bring home livestock and dump it straight into the tank. I threw a foxface in one day but it jumped out. I grabbed it with my bare hand and learned what the spines on its back were for! I electrocuted myself and passed out 4 years ago. I flooded the 3rd floor of our house and destroyed the hard wood floors. I cracked the glass on a tank trying to move it while full. I've done a lot of stupid things over the years. But I guess I learnt something from every experience because now I have a TOTM!
Regrets & Advice
I regret that I didn't read more in the beginning. I regret listening to guys who worked at the first LFS I used to shop at. Also, I regret letting my emotions get the best of me in the hobby. Crashing a tank can be very emotional and you don't always think clearly. I would suggest to all new reefers to never let your emotions get in the way. Try to be patient and cool headed whether you are buying new livestock, equipment or trying to solve a problem. Don't get discouraged, there is a solution to almost any problem. The best thing to do is come on to Nano-Reef, read, ask questions, find the answer and then fix the problem. Also don't skip water changes, it never ends well. Above all, never stop until you are happy. If something about your tank bothers you, just change it. It's your world, do what you want to do, just plan carefully and try and keep things simple.
Future Plans
My ultimate goal in the future is to convert the tank to a walk around, where you can see the rocks and corals from 3 different sides. I also plan on changing the stand or hopefully one day moving the tank to the bar in the kitchen. I would also love to take the time to hide every cord and wire as well as hang the bulbs from the ceiling. I would also like to start collecting rarer pieces of coral and try out some corals I have never kept before.
Acknowledgements
First off I'd like to thank Chris for the opportunity to be featured here, and for running the site and making this incredible online community possible. Thanks to everyone who follows my thread and for all the compliments and advice. Thanks to all the Canadian reefers out there and people in Toronto who lent a hand along the way. And most importantly thank you to all the members here on Nano-Reef for their words of wisdom and kindness. I wouldn't be here today without their help and support.
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